James Van Der Beek Dies at 48 from Colorectal Cancer

James Van Der Beek, the actor best known for portraying the earnest teenager Dawson Leery on the WB series Dawson's Creek, died Wednesday at age 48 after a battle with colorectal cancer.

His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, announced the news in a statement posted to his Instagram account. "Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning," the family wrote. "He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."

Van Der Beek had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in August 2023 but kept his condition private until November 2024, when he revealed it in a statement to People magazine after learning a tabloid planned to publish the story. "I've been dealing with this privately until now, getting treatment and dialing in my overall health with greater focus than ever before," he said at the time. "I'm in a good place and feeling strong. It's been quite the initiation, and I'll tell you more when I'm ready." In a subsequent interview with Good...